Supervision of Interns and Assistants

Supervisor Qualifications

Audiology assistants and audiology interns must be supervised by an audiologist licensed in Texas. Speech-language pathology assistants must be supervised by a speech-language pathologist who is licensed in Texas. Speech-language pathology license holders with a grandfathered bachelor’s degree license may only supervise assistants. Speech-language pathology interns may only be supervised by licensed speech-language pathologists who possess at least a master's degree with a major in one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders.

To be eligible to supervise interns and assistants, supervisors must have 2 years of professional experience in providing direct client services. The internship year may be counted toward the 2 years of experience.

You may not supervise an individual who is your parent or child.

Responsibilities of a Supervisor

• Verify intern or assistants license status
• Verify supervision has been approved by TDLR prior to beginning services
• Ensure that the scope of practice is appropriate for the intern/assistant
• Be responsible for all client services performed by assistant/intern
• Provide the appropriate supervision amount/type in accordance with intern/assistants license requirements
• Supervisors of assistants are responsible for evaluations, interpretation, and case management
• Supervisors cannot designate anyone other than a licensed speech-language pathologist or intern in speech-language pathology to represent speech-language pathology to an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings

Supervision Requirements by License Type

Supervision requirements vary depending on the license held. Supervision of assistants may be prorated if fewer than four weeks are worked in a calendar month. See below for specific information.

Intern in Speech-Language Pathology

The internship will be divided into three segments. During each segment of the internship, each TDLR-approved supervisor shall conduct a formal evaluation. The internship must have at least thirty-six (36) clock hours of supervisory activities to include:

1. Six hours of direct supervision per segment by TDLR-approved supervisor(s) of the intern's client contact in which the intern provides screening, evaluation, assessment, habilitation, and/or rehabilitation; and
2. Six hours of indirect supervision per segment with TDLR-approved supervisor(s) which may include correspondence, review of videotapes, evaluation of written reports, phone conferences with the intern, evaluations by professional colleagues.

Assistant in Speech-Language Pathology

The supervisor is required to provide at least 8 hours per month of supervision, at least 4 hours of which are direct supervision. Up to four hours may be indirect supervision. If fewer than four (4) weeks are worked in a calendar month, then the number of hours of supervision provided will be based on the number of weeks worked. Two (2) hours of supervision must be provided for each week worked, including one (1) hour of direct supervision and one (1) hour of indirect supervision. Tele-supervision may be used for direct and indirect supervision.

Intern in Audiology

The supervisor shall supervise the internship, which consists of 1,600 hours of supervised clinical work. The internship shall begin after completion of all academic course work, and involves primarily clinical activities such as assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, screening, treatment, report writing, family/client consultation, and/or counseling related to the management process of individuals.

Assistant in Audiology

The supervisor is required to provide at least 10 hours of supervision each week, or 40 hours per month, whether the audiology assistant works part-time or full-time. The supervisor must provide at least 1 hour per week or 4 hours per month of direct supervision. The remaining supervision hours may be performed using indirect supervision. If fewer than four (4) weeks are worked in a calendar month, then the number of hours of supervision provided will be based on the number of weeks worked. Ten (10) hours of supervision must be provided for each week worked, including one (1) hour of direct supervision.

Direct Supervision

Direct supervision is the real-time observation and guidance by the supervisor while a client contact or clinical activity or service is performed by the assistant or intern. Direct supervision may be performed in person or via tele-supervision.

Indirect Supervision

Indirect supervision includes monitoring activities by the supervisor of the licensed assistant or intern, which may include telephone conferences, evaluations of records and correspondence, and reviewing videotapes of therapy sessions. Tele-supervision may be used to provide indirect supervision. For instance, a supervisor may wish to video conference with an assistant to discuss areas for improvement.

Adding a Supervisee to Your License

Licensed speech-language pathologists, who have their master’s degree in communicative sciences or disorders, and audiologists who are eligible to supervise may add a supervisee to their license in one of two ways:

Option 1 - Add a Supervisee Online. The online system allows supervisors to add or delete assistant and intern supervisees if the assistant or intern is currently licensed. The online system is not available for supervisees who have not been issued a license. Read detailed instructions for the online system.

Option 2 - Submit the paper form:

• Assistant in Speech-Language Pathology: Complete and submit the Speech-Language Pathology Supervisory Responsibility Statement (SRS) (PDF). Upon approval, the assistant will be added your license.
• Intern in Speech-language Pathology: Complete and submit an Speech-Language Pathology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision (PDF). Upon approval, the intern will be added to your license.
• Assistant in Audiology: Complete and submit the Assistant in Audiology Supervisory Responsibility Statement (SRS) (PDF). Upon approval, the assistant will be added your license.
• Intern in Audiology: Complete and submit the Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision (PDF). Upon approval, the intern will be added to your license.

Speech-language pathology license holders with a grandfathered bachelor’s degree license may supervise assistants but are unable to use the online option. To add an assistant to your license, you must complete and submit the paper form of the Supervisory Responsibility Statement (SRS) form (PDF).

Speech-language pathology supervisors may not supervise more than 4 assistants and/or interns at a time.

Audiology supervisors may not supervise more than 4 assistants and/or interns at a time.

You may not supervise an individual who is your parent or child.

Terminating the Supervisory Relationship

Interns

Submit a completed Report of Completed Internship Form to TDLR within 30 days of terminated supervision. Both the intern and supervisor must complete and sign this form. The Report of Completed Internship Form must be completed for each portion of the internship completed under a supervisor. If no hours were earned under a supervisor, a signed statement must be submitted to TDLR stating that no hours were earned.

• Speech-Language Pathology Report of Completed Internship Form (PDF)
• Audiology Report of Completed Internship Form (PDF)

Assistants

You must notify TDLR of any changes in supervision. You may use the Online Supervisee System to delete your interns/assistants from your license. You may also submit a letter to TDLR stating termination of supervision.